Nicklas Bendtner held by police over damaged cars

Nicklas Bendtner and Sunderland team-mate Lee Cattermole have been arrested over allegations they were involved in a car-wrecking spree just yards from Newcastle's St James' Park ground.

The arrests are the first test of Martin O'Neill's management at Sunderland, coming just two weeks after he took charge of the Premier League strugglers.

Striker Bendtner, who is on a season-long loan from Arsenal, and midfielder Cattermole were held by Northumbria Police yesterday on suspicion of criminal damage and bailed. It follows an incident in Stowell Street, Newcastle, at about 10pm on December 6.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that two men aged 23, have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage."

In September, Bendtner claimed his fortunes at Arsenal declined after he wrote off his Aston Martin in a car crash two years earlier.

"If I can have it my way, I will never play for Arsenal again," he said. "After my car accident I never really got the chance to earn a spot in the first team."